Whether you’re a renter or a buyer, you should clean a house when moving out. For renters, it’s usually written in the lease that a house must be cleaned before it’s vacated. If you’re unsure how thoroughly to clean the place, check with the landlord beforehand; otherwise, you may not receive your deposit back. When selling a house, a contractual agreement is often made with the realtor that the house is swept and that all personal belongings are removed before the previous owners move out.

Yes, many services include cleaning as part of the repair process. Confirm with your provider.

The best time to clean the outside of your house is during your outdoor spring cleaning. Wait until late spring, after the wave of pollen is done coating your home. You can also wash your house in late fall–before the first freeze–to remove leaves and branches from the gutters.

Yes, you should plan on being home when a window cleaner is cleaning your windows. The professional will clean both sides of the glass and will likely disassemble parts of your windows from the inside to clean and inspect the inner components, including the balances and weatherstripping. Much of this work requires interior access to your home, which means someone will need to be home to provide access to the window cleaner.